U.S. patent number 5,172,933 [Application Number 07/419,185] was granted by the patent office on 1992-12-22 for air bag diverter.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Ford Motor Company. Invention is credited to Robert A. Strasser.
United States Patent |
5,172,933 |
Strasser |
December 22, 1992 |
Air bag diverter
Abstract
An inflatable occupant restraint device includes an airbag in
fluid communication with a gas generator and a diverter carried
within the air bag adjacent the gas discharge openings of the gas
generator to direct a portion of the gas flow away from the
occupant to be restrained.
Inventors: |
Strasser; Robert A. (Livonia,
MI) |
Assignee: |
Ford Motor Company (Dearborn,
MI)
|
Family
ID: |
23661165 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/419,185 |
Filed: |
October 10, 1989 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
280/740; 280/732;
280/743.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60R
21/233 (20130101); B60R 21/2346 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B60R
21/16 (20060101); B60R 021/28 () |
Field of
Search: |
;280/740,741,742,743,728,729,732 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Rice; Kenneth R.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Stock; Daniel M. May; Roger L.
Claims
I claim:
1. An inflatable occupant restraint device for an automotive
vehicle for restraining the movement of an occupant of the vehicle
with respect to the device comprising:
a gas generating device mounted on the vehicle including means for
effecting the flow of gas and having gas discharge openings
arranged to direct said gas flow toward said occupant;
a flexible bag fixedly secured to said gas generating device and
having interior surfaces in fluid communication with said gas
discharge openings for effecting inflation of said flexible bag;
and
a fluid permeable diverter carried within said flexible bag
adjacent said gas discharge openings and operative to deflect a
portion of said gas flow away from said occupant.
2. An inflatable occupant restraint device as defined in claim 1,
wherein said diverter is a flexible member fixedly secured to said
flexible bag.
3. An inflatable occupant restraint device as defined in claim 2,
wherein said flexible bag and said diverter are each fabricated
from a fluid permeable fabric.
4. An inflatable occupant restraint device as defined in claim 3,
wherein said diverter is sewn to said flexible bag.
5. An inflatable occupant restraint device as defined in claim 1,
wherein said diverter includes means for deflecting said gas flow
laterally outwardly with respect to said occupant.
6. An inflatable occupant restraint device as defined in claim 5,
wherein said diverter further includes means for deflecting said
gas flow vertically with respect to said occupant.
7. An inflatable occupant restraint device as defined in claim 2,
wherein said diverter is a U-shaped sleeve.
8. An inflatable occupant restraint device for an automotive
vehicle for restraining the movement of an occupant of the vehicle
with respect to the device comprising:
a gas generating device mounted on the vehicle in juxtaposition
with said occupant, including means for effecting the flow of gas
and having gas discharge openings arranged to direct said gas flow
toward said occupant;
a flexible bag fixedly secured to said gas generating device and
having interior surfaces in fluid communication with said discharge
openings for effecting inflation of said flexible bag; and
a diverter carried within said flexible bag in juxtaposition with
said occupant adjacent said gas discharge openings and including
fluid permeable means operative to deflect a portion of said gas
flow away from said occupant and to direct a smaller portion of
said gas flow toward said occupant.
9. An inflatable occupant restraint device as defined in claim 8,
wherein said diverter is a flexible member fixedly secured to said
flexible bag.
10. An inflatable occupant restraint device as defined in claim 9,
wherein said flexible bag and said diverter are each fabricated
from a fluid permeable fabric.
11. An inflatable occupant restraint device as defined in claim 10,
wherein said diverter is sewn to said flexible bag.
12. An inflatable occupant restraint device as defined in claim 8,
wherein said diverter includes means for deflecting said gas flow
laterally outwardly with respect to said occupant.
13. An inflatable occupant restraint device as defined in claim 12,
wherein said diverter further includes means for deflecting said
gas flow vertically with respect to said occupant.
14. An inflatable occupant restraint device as defined in claim 9,
wherein said diverter is a U-shaped sleeve.
15. An inflatable occupant restraint device as defined in claim 10,
wherein said diverter is a U-shaped sleeve of fluid permeable
fabric.
16. An inflatable occupant restraint device for an automotive
vehicle for restraining the movement of an occupant of the vehicle
with respect to the device comprising:
a gas generating device mounted on the vehicle in juxtaposition
with said occupant, including means for effecting the flow of gas
and having gas discharge openings arranged to direct said gas flow
toward said occupant;
a flexible bag fixedly secured to said gas generating device and
having interior surfaces in fluid communication with said discharge
openings for effecting inflation of said flexible gag; and
a fluid permeable diverter carried within said flexible bag in
juxtaposition with said occupant adjacent said gas discharge
openings and including means operative to deflect a portion of said
gas flow away from said occupant and to direct a smaller portion of
said gas flow toward said occupant.
17. An inflatable occupant restraint device for an automotive
vehicle for restraining the forward movement of an occupant of the
vehicle comprising:
an elongated gas generating device mounted on the vehicle for
lateral extension across the vehicle in juxtaposition with said
occupant, including means for effecting the flow of gas and having
laterally spaced gas discharge openings arranged to direct said gas
flow toward said occupant;
a flexible bag fixedly secured to said gas generating device and
having interior surfaces in fluid communication with said discharge
openings for effecting inflation of said flexible gag; and
a fluid permeable diverter carried within said flexible bag in
juxtaposition with said occupant adjacent and overlying all of said
gas discharge openings and including means operative to deflect a
portion of said gas flow away from said occupant and to direct a
smaller portion of said gas flow toward said occupant.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to inflatable restraint
systems, and more particularly to air bag assemblies for such
systems that employ a diverter to direct a portion of the inflating
gas away from a vehicle occupant.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
One approach to the provision of passive occupant restraint systems
in automotive vehicles is the provision of a supplemental
inflatable restraint or air bag system in which an air bag is
positioned in juxtaposition with a seated occupant of the vehicle
who is further restrained by a seat belt. The air bag serves to
cushion the belted occupant during forward moving deceleration
occurring during a frontal collision of predetermined magnitude.
The rearward spacing of the occupant with respect to the rearward
opening air bag is established by the seating position in which the
occupant is belted. If an occupant fails to use the seat belt,
however, it is possible that the occupant's seating position will
be forward of that which has been found to be desirable,
particularly after the incidence of vehicle impact. This can result
in the imposition of relatively high force on the occupant by the
air bag during inflation because the gas generating device which
inflates the air bag is normally positioned such that it discharges
a large portion of the gas generated for inflation in the direction
of the occupant. The present invention is directed at ameliorating
this effect.
It is known in the prior art to provide inflatable restraint
systems which employ supplementary compartments within an air bag
and baffles which serve to provide localized cushioning and direct
the inflating gases laterally outwardly to assure outward inflation
of an air bag to accommodate cushioning of more than one passenger.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,265,468 to Suszko et. al. is illustrative of such a
system. It suffers from many disadvantages, however, since it
utilizes a baffle for an entirely different purpose from the
diverter of the present invention. It utilizes a baffle of
impermeable material to serve as a conduit for directing inflating
gas laterally outwardly to ensure the cushioning of a pair of
occupants because it must direct substantially all of the inflating
gas flow. It further suffers from the disadvantage of being
necessarily of substantial dimension to accommodate this
flow-controlling function. It is positioned in surrounding
relationship with respect to a gas generating device diffuser, as
well as a knee cushion below the instrument panel of a vehicle.
This necessitates the provision of the large fluid impervious
sleeve as a baffle to direct flow outward to a torso bag. In a more
conventional positioning of the inflatable restraint system gas
generating device in a portion of the instrument panel facing the
occupant, however, the use of such a baffle in necessitating
lateral outward flow of substantially all of the gas generated for
inflation may restrict the inflation of the portion of the air bag
directly confronting the properly positioned belted occupant to an
extent that may make its use undesirable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Responsive to deficiencies of the prior art, it is an object of the
present invention to provide an inflatable occupant restraint
device of the type positioned in juxtaposition with a seated
vehicle occupant which will include a flexible bag in communication
with a gas generating device and a diverter carried within the
flexible bag operative to deflect a portion of the gas flow from
the gas generating device away from the occupant.
According to a feature of the present invention, both the flexible
bag and the diverter are formed of fluid permeable fabric to permit
a certain amount of gas flow from the gas generating device
directly toward the occupant.
According to another feature of the invention, the diverter may be
provided with a plurality of apertures extending vertically through
the diverter to facilitate the vertical flow of gas from the gas
generating device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other objects and features of the present invention will
be apparent to those skilled in the inflatable occupant restraints
art upon reading the following description with reference to the
accompanying drawing in which:
FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of the passenger compartment of
an automotive vehicle in which the inflatable occupant restraint
device of the present invention is deployed, certain parts broken
away for clarity;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the flexible bag and diverter
installed about a gas generating device according to the present
invention;
FIG. 3 is a side view partially cross-sectioned illustrating the
inflated state of the inflatable occupant restraint device of the
present invention;
FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating an alternative
embodiment of the diverter; and
FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the inflated state of
the invention inflatable occupant restraint device in which the
alternative embodiment diverter of FIG. 4 is utilized.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Turning now to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 1, an
automotive vehicle 10 is indicated as including a passenger
compartment indicated generally at 12. A seat 14 is provided for
supporting an occupant 16 in a seated position, as shown. The seat
14 is arranged so that the chest area 18 of the occupant 16 is
arranged in juxtaposition with an instrument panel 20 in which is
mounted an inflatable occupant restraint device indicated generally
at 22. As is well known, such an inflatable occupant restraint
device is normally packaged within the confines of the instrument
panel 20 and is deployed to the position shown in FIG. 1 only upon
the occurrence of a collision of predetermined magnitude and
duration. The components and related vehicle systems associated
with such packaging and deployment are not essential to the
understanding and practice of the present invention and, therefore,
will not be described. It is only essential that the inflatable
occupant restraint device 22 include a gas generating device 24, an
inflatable air bag 26 surrounding and in fluid communication with
the gas generating device 24 and a diverter 28.
The gas generating device 24 is illustrated as being of an
elongated tubular type having a tubular core member 30 surrounded
by a tubular diffuser 32, having a plurality of gas discharge
apertures 34 formed through it. Other designs of gas generating
devices may be used, however, but it is contemplated that they
would be generally arranged such that gas discharge passages 34
face rearwardly toward the occupant 16 from the instrument panel
20. The gas generating device may be structurally secured to the
vehicle 10 within the instrument panel 20 by suitable conventional
means, not shown.
The air bag 26 is formed of a flexible fluid permeable fabric
material, such as nylon, and is secured to the gas generating
device 24 so that the gas discharge apertures 34 are in fluid
communication with the interior 36 of the air bag 26. In normal
operation of an inflatable occupant restraint device of the type
shown, a signal indicative of the occurrence of a collision of
predetermined magnitude and duration would initiate a chemical
reaction generating gas to be discharged through the gas discharge
apertures 34 directly outwardly toward the occupant 16 so that the
rear surface 38 of the air bag 26 cushioningly engages the chest
area 18 of the occupant 16.
Positioned within the interior 36 of the air bag 26 is the diverter
28 which is preferably formed of the same fluid permeable material
as the air bag 26 and may be secured thereto by sewing, as
indicated at 40. In the expanded state shown in the drawing
figures, the diverter 28 forms a generally U-shaped sleeve in close
surrounding relationship with respect to the gas generating device
24. With a cylindrical gas generating device of the type
illustrated, the inner surface 42 of the diverter 28 is spaced from
the discharge apertures 34 a distance equal to approximately twice
the diameter of the gas generating device 24. Similar proportioning
can be used in positioning the diverter with respect to discharge
ports of gas generating devices of other shapes, such as
rectangular to effect the desired close surrounding
relationship.
As may best be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the diverter 28 extends
laterally across substantially the entire length of the gas
generating device 24 to completely lie over all of the gas
discharge apertures 34. This construction results in the gas flow
pattern, as illustrated by the arrows G in FIG. 2 in which a
substantial quantity of gas emanating from the gas generating
device 24 is diverted around the lateral ends 44 of the diverter
28, while a lesser portion, indicated by the arrows G' passes
through the permeable diverter 28 directly toward the occupant 16.
This construction provides cushioning gas flow between the gas
discharge apertures 34 and the occupant 16 at a lower rate than
that which passes laterally outwardly with respect to the occupant
16.
The rate at which upper and lower surfaces 48, 50, respectively, of
the air bag 26 are moved to their inflated positions may be
enhanced by the modification to the diverter 28 illustrated in
FIGS. 4 and 5. It is there illustrated that a modified diffuser 128
may be provided in which a plurality of through apertures 52, 54
are formed through upper and lower surfaces 56, 58, respectively,
to define a third path for gas flow designated G" upwardly and
downwardly within the air bag 26. In this alternative embodiment,
the reduced gas flow in the direction of the occupant 16 is
maintained, together with the primary gas flow G around the sides
146 of the diverter 128, but in addition to the regular filling of
the air bag 26 filling in upper and lower directions not directed
toward the occupant 16 is enhanced. It will be clear to those
skilled in the fluid control arts that the size and positioning of
the apertures 52, 54 may also be chosen to permit gas flow from the
gas generating device 24 toward the occupants at an appropriate
rate supplementing or replacing the path of the flow G' provided by
the permeability of the fabric from which the diverter 128 is
constructed.
While only certain embodiments of the inflatable occupant restraint
device have been disclosed, others will be possible without
departing from the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *